Thailand Scraps Crypto Capital Gains Tax as Asia’s Digital Asset Race Heats Up

Thailand has introduced a zero percent capital gains tax on crypto transactions conducted through platforms licensed by the country’s securities regulator, with the exemption running from the start of 2025 through the end of 2029.

The move aligns crypto taxation with how the country treats gains from traditional securities and builds on an earlier decision to waive value-added tax on crypto gains in 2024. Trades made on unlicensed or overseas platforms will still face standard personal tax rates of up to 38%, as authorities aim to strengthen Thailand’s position as a regional hub for crypto investors and digital nomads.

Security Researcher Turns to Chinese AI Tools

The founder of Bitcoin Red Team said he has been forced to rely on open-source Chinese AI models after losing access to certain analysis tools from a major US AI provider, raising concerns that top-tier AI capabilities are becoming harder for defenders to access while bad actors face no such restrictions. Industry groups have since called on leading AI developers to create a trusted pathway allowing legitimate security researchers access to their most advanced tools.

Onchain Activity Surges Across Asia-Pacific

A new report found that onchain transaction volume across the Asia-Pacific region jumped 68% year-over-year, reaching $2.36 trillion, marking the fastest growth of any region worldwide. Much of the increase was driven by Southeast Asian countries, where consumers largely bypassed cards and traditional banking in favor of mobile payments, which now account for the majority of transactions in the region.

Delayed US Legislation May Benefit Asian Hubs

The postponement of a key US Senate vote on crypto market structure legislation could give financial centers like Hong Kong and Singapore more time to strengthen their regulatory frameworks and attract institutional capital, according to a stablecoin industry executive, who noted that continued uncertainty in the US creates an opening for jurisdictions with clearer rules.

Court Backs Bybit in Effort to Trace Stolen Funds

A US federal judge granted crypto exchange Bybit expedited discovery in its legal effort to trace assets from a major North Korea-linked hack that occurred in early 2025, giving the exchange a practical path to identify intermediaries connected to the theft and pursue recovery of a portion of the stolen funds.